secundum Matthæum 1:18

Nova Vulgata

Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: "Unde hoc sciam? Ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis".

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Et protinus relictis retibus, secuti sunt eum.

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Whereby: Luke 1:34, Genesis 15:8, Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:12, Judges 6:36-40, Isaiah 38:22

for: Luke 1:7, Numbers 11:21-23, 2 Kings 7:2, Romans 4:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:11 - old Genesis 18:14 - I will Numbers 11:22 - General 2 Kings 4:16 - do not lie Romans 4:18 - against Romans 4:20 - staggered

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Zacharias said unto the angel, whereby shall I know this?.... Notwithstanding such an appearance of an angel to him, which in those times was not so usual, and this in the holy place; and the things themselves which were told him, and these as the return of prayer; yet he distrusted, and wanted a sign, whereby he might know the truth of them, as the Jews were generally desirous of, and as the father of them was; who expressed himself in much such language, on a certain occasion, as this his son did; see

Genesis 15:8.

For I am an old man; at least sixty years of age; for with the Jews, sixty years were reckoned, לזקנה, "for old age" w; and a man of these years, was accounted an old man: and the Jewish Rabbins observe x, that the word for old age in Job 30:2 is by "gematry, sixty"; that is, the letters of the word, numerically make so much. The Mahometan writers, as before observed on Luke 1:7 make him to be ninety nine years of age: he was not discharged from service; the Levites were at fifty, but not the priests; blemishes, as the Jewish writers say y, made them unfit for service, but years did not: and even the law concerning the Levites, they say z, only respected the time they carried the sanctuary from place to place, and not future generations; and that they are disqualified neither by blemishes, nor by years, only by voice, for singing of the song; but then they might be among the porters; so that they were not on that account laid aside from all service:

and my wife well stricken in years. The Mahometan writers, as before, say, she was "eighty nine"; a like objection Abraham made, though he afterwards got over it, and was strong in faith, giving glory to God, believing in his power and faithfulness; see Genesis 17:17.

w Misn. Abot, c. 5. sect. 21. & Maimon. in ib. x R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 24. 2. y T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 24. 1. z Maimon. Hilch. Cele Hamikdash, c. 3. sect. 8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whereby shall I know this? - The thing was improbable, and he desired “evidence” that it would take place. The testimony of an “angel,” and in such a place, should have been proof enough; but people are slow to believe the testimony of heavenly messengers. As a consequence of not believing, he was struck mute.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 1:18. Whereby shall I know this? — All things are possible to God: no natural impediment can have any power when God has declared he will accomplish his purpose. He has a right to be believed on his own word alone; and it is impious, when we are convinced that it is his word, to demand a sign or pledge for its fulfilment.